Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loans

Federal Direct Grad PLUS loans are credit-based loans available to eligible law and graduate students enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program on at least a half-time basis (six credit hours per term).

Students interested in applying for a Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan must complete:

  1. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the appropriate school year.
  2. A Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan application for the appropriate year at studentaid.gov.
  3. New borrowers must complete Loan Entrance Counseling and sign a Grad PLUS Master Promissory Note. Both can be completed at studentaid.gov.

These applications must be submitted at least six weeks prior to the start of the term for Direct Loan funding to be available by the time classes begin.

As of July 1, 2026, the Graduate PLUS loan program will be eliminated unless a student qualifies for a limited exception. The  limited exception allows law student borrowers to continue to borrow Graduate PLUS loans up to the Cost of Attendance, as established by the Office of Financial Aid, minus any other financial aid the student will receive.  The limited exception applies for the duration of the student’s expected time to credential (the difference between the length of the academic program and the period the student already completed) or three academic years, whichever is less. To qualify for the limited exception:

  • The student must remain continuously enrolled in the same program at the same institution as they were enrolled as of June 30, 2026, AND
  • The student must have borrowed a Federal Direct Loan for that same program prior to July 1, 2026.

Beginning with the 2026-27 aid year (summer, fall, and spring terms), students enrolled less than full time (9 credit/semester and 18 credits/academic year) will have a reduced annual loan limit proportional to their enrollment. Any changes to enrollment may result in a change to a student’s loan eligibility for the term and/or academic year.

Interest rates are set by the federal government every July 1st for the following year. The interest rate for Grad PLUS Loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2025, and before July 1, 2026, is 8.94%. The interest rate for Grad PLUS Loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2026, and before July 1, 2027, is 9.07%. All loans disbursed on or after October 1, 2020, will have an origination fee of 4.228% deducted from the amount borrowed.

Upon receipt of the appropriate application file from studentaid.gov, the Financial Aid Office will determine the loan eligibility and originate the loan. A credit check will determine your eligibility for this loan.

Your loan will not disburse until a Master Promissory Note has been signed. Academic year Grad PLUS loans are disbursed one half each semester, at the beginning of each semester, by a direct credit to your account. For summer session and single term loans, one disbursement is made at the beginning of the term.